After joining my first big company, Monster.com, I was sent to my first big conference. As their social media ninja, they wanted me to know the most forward-thinking social strategies and sent me to learn from the big brands. I geeked out. I read all of the overviews and had my agenda planned days ahead of getting there. Not only …
Becoming a Consultant: Where Do I Start?
Not a day goes by without someone asking me how they can quit their job and become a consultant, coach, speaker, or entrepreneur. “I’m thinking about going out on my own, Laurie. How do I get started?” – HR and Recruiting Peeps Do you dream about quitting your job and going out on your own? It’s not unusual. Some people …
Are You a Mentor or Mommie Dearest?
Hey manager Mommie Dearest–could your mentoring do more harm than good? I am a fan of mentorships. I like to mentor people. And, if I am trying to develop my employees, I always recommend they pick a mentor besides me, since in theory, I mentor them every day. Mentoring can be an easy way to develop a variety of skills …
You Can’t Change the World on the Internet
Let’s say you are passionate about something and want to change the world. Q: How do you fix significant problems by using the internet?A: You don’t. Stop yourself before you start. – Laurie Ruettimann The internet is but one tool to affect social change, and it’s an imperfect one at best. You need an omnichannel approach that includes academic research, …
Micro-Internships: A Gig Economy Way to Find Great Young Talent.
Count me as a big fan of college internships. I’ve told this story before, but I trace my long career as a journalist and media executive back to my college internship on the Metro Desk of the Los Angeles Times. I got class credit instead of pay, but that wasn’t the point. I wanted a chance to write something that …
The Five Most Important Things To Do To Show The World You’re Freaking Awesome at What You Do.
Professional awesomeness. You’ve got it. The world needs to know about it. I’ve mentioned in the past that you need a plan if you want real career traction. Some of my rants have focused on the reality that you have to be willing to tell the world about everything you’ve accomplished. If you don’t do it, no one else will. Now here’s …
Can You Relocate To Lubbock? The New Rules for an Old Recruiting Question.
“If this job is the right fit for you, is Islamabad a place you’d relocate the family to?” Some of you laughed. I’m not laughing. I’m a recruiter trying to determine if a great candidate will actually move where I need them to move before I destroy 20 hours of organizational time via the interview dog and pony show. So, …
Can the Gig Life Be the Safe Haven for the Overqualified?
I hate the word “overqualified.” It has this nasty connotation because if someone has a depth of work experience, they can’t fit into a role. They have too many years of experience, too much seniority or too high-level of a title to do the job, at least that’s the vibe I get when someone tells me a candidate is overqualified. …
Hi, My Name Is…Low-Hanging Fruit
Yep – that’s me! The low-hanging fruit on the LinkedIn tree. What’s it like being low-hanging fruit and working in Talent Acquisition? Well, you’re popular with a variety of people. And come to find out, a lot of people don’t read your LinkedIn profile. Or if they do, they don’t pick up what you’re putting down. No clue as to …
Good People Get Fired, But Is a “Failure Résumé” the Best Way to Cope With It?
Here’s a workplace truism that’s hard to dispute: Good people frequently get fired. Steve Jobs got fired from Apple, eventually returning to build it into the highly profitable, trend-setting company that it is today. Oprah Winfrey, Walt Disney, and Harry Potter author JK Rowling all got fired too. Pointing out all the famous people who once were “involuntarily terminated” is …